Matt Dempsey, Gladioli
	Leonie Mills, Jack & Jill

Lauded local chefs Matt Dempsey from Gladioli restaurant in Inverleigh and Leonie Mills from Jack & Jill Restaurant in Geelong have been confirmed as highlights of the inaugural Geelong Food & Wine Show  as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival in March 2012.

Bringing a wealth of talent, innovation and regional expertise, Matt and Leonie will be working closely with Stephane McGlynn from Queenscliff’s Q Provedore, a seafood specialist whose use of French techniques with local seafood has brought a new depth of culinary experience to the Bellarine Peninsula.

Matt, Leonie and Stephane will be shining alongside celebrity chefs George Calombaris, Ben O’Donoghue and patissier Adriano Zumbo to create a MasterClass program that will put the spotlight firmly on Geelong and surrounding regions, focussing their rising reputations as major food & wine hubs.

Matt Dempsey is the owner/chef of Gladioli and a local star on the rise.  Raised in Penshurst, Western Victoria, Matt’s rural upbringing brings an understanding of the true meaning of local produce.  Highly awarded, Matt was the 2009 Winner of the Electrolux Appetite for Excellence Young Chef award, arguably Australia’s leading hospitality award program that recognises and develops young talent. 

Matt served his apprenticeship in Port Douglas before returning to the Geelong area to take up a position at Pettavel Winery.  In 2010 Matt was a key player in the relaunch of the Pier and Gold Diggers Arms in Geelong, creating a broad range of themed restaurant and café dining experiences.

Work experience in the UK with the internationally renowned Heston Blumenthal (The Fat Duck) and Australian wunderkind Brett Graham (The Ledbury) has cemented Matt’s reputation as a highly skilled and innovative chef with a fine appreciation of modern food crafted from the best local, seasonal ingredients.  He continues to do the region proud and will bring a wealth of experience and insight to the show.

Leonie Mills is the chef and co-owner, with husband Damien, of Geelong’s Jack & Jill Restaurant.  Housed in an historic building and perched high on the hill in the centre of town, Jack & Jill’s offers a unique dining approach, driven by Leonie’s vision.  Leonie creates ‘miniature meals’ and encourages diners to savour the flavours of her tapas-style tastes. 

Using cutting edge trends and the best possible ingredients, Leonie’s approach has attracted kudos with a great review in The Age 2012 Good Food Guide, a win in the National Golden Plate Awards and numerous other accolades.  Jack and Jill’s also has a comprehensive wine list and one of the best boutique beer lists around, giving Leonie a well rounded appreciation of food, wine and beer and how flavours work together.  Her expertise will bring another dimension to the Geelong Food & Wine Show.

The inaugural Geelong Food & Wine Show will take place on the Labour Day Weekend, 10-11 March 2012, at the historic Deakin Waterfront Campus.  Transformed into a buzzing marketplace of chefs, local providores and winemakers with over 80 exhibitors, the show by the bay features a comprehensive program of MasterClass sessions featuring guest chefs George Calombaris, Ben O’Donoghue, Adriano Zumbo, Matt Dempsey, Leonie Mills and Stephane McGlynn.  Artisan cheese making, local wines and regional produce will all feature in the program and a dedicated wine program will be announced shortly.

A website with all details of the sessions, exhibitors and events will be live on 27 January.  Head to www.geelongfws.com.au. The event is supported by the City of Greater Geelong; Geelong Otway Tourism and the Geelong Football Club.

What:    The inaugural Geelong Food & Wine Show
Where:  Deakin Waterfront Campus, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong
When:   10-11 March, 2012, Labour Day Weekend
Bookings:  via www.geelongfws.com.au